The regime forces shell the western countryside of Idlib and calm follows tensions in Jisr Al-Shughur between Turkestan and Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham

Idlib Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the regime forces shelled after midnight areas in Bdama town in the western countryside of Jisr Al-Shughur and at the western outskirts of Jisr Al-Shughur city. No casualties were reported. In addition, a girl was killed and several others were injured in shelling by the regime forces this morning on areas in Jisr Al-Shughur city in the western countryside of Idlib. Meanwhile, cautious calm prevails in Jisr Al-Shughur city, against a backdrop of tensions resulting from the mobilization carried out by The Turkistan Islamic Party and Ahrar Al-Sham Islamic Movement, after the former accused the latter of arresting Uzbek and Turkestani elements in the ranks of the Party. The SOHR activists observed the vehicles of the latter touring the streets of Jisr Al-Shughur city while barriers and checkpoints are deployed by both parties. Intermediaries are trying to settle the dispute, restore calm and bring the views of both parties closer to put an end to such disputes.

The SOHR published last night that tensions still persist in the eastern countryside of Idlib, in conjunction with continued alert in the ranks of Ahrar Al-Sham Movement and Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, amid fears and alert among the people of Saraqeb and Tel al-Toqan and other areas in the eastern countryside of Idlib because of the clashes that took place between both parties in the vicinity of Tel Toqan area. Local sources asserted that both Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham brought reinforcements and fortified their positions and points in the vicinity of Tel Toqan and Saraqeb, amid warnings issued by the people of the town of Saraqeb, that they will respond to any attack on their town, while mediations are being carried out by military and “legitimate” figures to reach full truce, after talks about an agreement reached between both parties to exchange captives and prisoners and to appoint a “Sharia Committee” to settle the dispute and remove the checkpoints set by both parties.

Local sources informed the SOHR on Friday night that violent clashes broke out between the fighters of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and those of Ahrar Al-Sham Movement in Tal Al-Toqan area in the eastern countryside of Idlib. Local sources also confirmed that clashes came as a result of an attack by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham on the town where Ahrar Al-Sham Movement is present, causing several injuries. Preliminary information was reported about the fall of civilian fatalities. However, information about the party that managed to take control of the village is still contradictory. Local sources believed that such clashes broke out as a result of a dispute that arose between both parties over electricity access and the operation of the water company. The area is currently on alert, amid fears of escalation.